[SE] Yeast of the Sun, Zest of the Moon

"Did you know her?" he asked, curious as always, especially about the bonds of family that he had so little experience with. His mother, his father, and him... that was all there had been. No grandparents or cousins, no siblings or aunts. Perhaps that was why he responded to Amalia's affection with such tentative yearning, seeking those ties he had watched others enjoy even while he was set apart in so many ways. He knew it came across as prying, that it was none of his business, but still he found himself trying to understand, plucking and tasting the memories of those who had what he could not. Perhaps he was a bit like the Tulmhainar himself in that... or rather, perhaps he could understand the great Cosmic Tortoise more, when placed in that context.

He handed the pans over and trailed after Amalia like a tall, lanky puppy as she carried them to the oven, sighing in dramatic impatience at how long they would take to bake. "I suppose I can wait that long," he pouted, blue eyes twinkling. "Especially since any treat from your bakery is well worth the wait!" And it was not such a long wait as all that, not with the conversation that flowed between them, replete with teasing and laughter and tidbits of their pasts and the joy of their companions playing around and between them as Isuma occasionally begged for sunflower seeds from the bag.

Sooner than he expected, in fact, the aromas of cardamom and citrus wafted through the bakery with tantalizing come-hither fingers that coaxed them towards the oven to check on their progress. "Now?" Jigano asked hopefully as he waited beside the iron door, offering Amalia a winning smile - and a pair of oven mitts.